“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge — but rather in a lack of will.” Vince Lombardi

In the challenging football world, when you feel overwhelmed and under-resourced with the problems you face, you tend to fall back on negative behaviors that can feel comfortable but prevent you from focusing on solutions with a clear and stable football mind.

You say things like – “I’m a total failure.” “I don’t belong at this stage.” These are just some of the self-defeating narratives that you repeat in your mind when you’re stressed out.

The quality of your thoughts affects not only how you perform, but what you believe you’re capable of.

How to Curb Self-Defeating Behaviors

Different states of mind make you more or less susceptible to triggering your self-defeating habits.

When you’re in an anxious mode, for instance, you’re most likely to do something counterproductive or give up altogether.

Recognizing how these states or modes of being take over, it can help you track your thoughts better.

Here are some steps to help curb self-defeating behaviors:

1) Familiarize yourself with the self-defeating habit: Get so you can recognize the routine as it starts, or begins to take over. This might be by noticing its typical thoughts or feelings, or how you start to act. Keep a journal of your triggers.
2) Be mindful: Monitor your behavior – thoughts, feelings, actions – from a neutral, “witness” awareness.
3) Remember the alternatives: Think of a better way to handle the situation.
4) Choose something better: For example, what you say or do that would be helpful instead of self-defeating.

Build On Your Strengths

Have written goals: Before you can chase down your football dreams, you must know what they are. What do you envision for your football carrier? Your life? Your success? The act of merely recognizing and writing down your goals serves both as a reminder of what you’re working toward and inspiration to keep you moving.

• Have a plan: You have a goal, now you need a proper plan. You must break down your goals into small, achievable steps to help you navigate this journey.
• Be consistent: Persistence is key. When you genuinely want something, there are no roadblocks powerful enough to stop you.
• Develop the necessary skillset: Sometimes, your current skillsets don’t match up to the skills needed to attain your goals. Did you know your mental game is as important as your physical one? Consider developing your mental abilities such as football mental toughness.

Even if the entire world is cheering you on, you won’t reach and maintain your goals until you harness the power of football confidence.

Building on your strengths is an incredibly powerful way of developing your football confidence. If you’ve stumbled a lot, it’s expected that your confidence may be shaken. Now is the time to bolster your resolve — challenge the negative thoughts circling in your head, lean into your game plan, and focus on your strengths.

How to Challenge the Negative Thoughts in Your Head

Mindfulness practices provide an opportunity to recognize your self-defeating thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors that creep up during your games.

The practice of mindfulness opens up the mental space that allows you to see your self-defeating habits as such rather than having them control what you say and do – and how you say it and do it – again and again, and again.

For this, a sports psychologist for football can be a great help, assisting you in the mindful tenacity such habit change requires.

Are you ready to manage and rewire your brain?

*FREE Guided Imagery Audio – Text Mental Game to 33777 and get your free Guided Imagery Audio. This will help you elevate your game and reach your goals sooner, quicker, and faster!